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Sticky Lips owner announces expansion at original location

Rochester Business Journal

November 5, 2013

The owner of Sticky Lips Pit BBQ restaurant in Rochester announced Tuesday plans to renovate the property at Atlantic Avenue and Culver Road.

Howard Nielsen plans to call it A.C. Junction Plaza, a combination of Atlantic and Culver. In addition to expanding the original Sticky Lips restaurant, plans include converting the 33,000-square-foot building into retail space.

When completed, the restaurant and A.C. Junction Plaza together will employ more than 200 people, Nielsen said.

Thus far, the parking lot’s drainage issues were repaired. In addition, new curbing and lighting were installed. The parking lot can now accommodate 112 spaces.

Phase 1, which is nearly complete, included a Sticky Lips BBQ catering kitchen expansion, as well as interior and exterior renovations of the Atlantic Avenue wing. This part of the building, totaling 11,000 square feet, will produce three new storefronts of leasable space, officials said.

Nielsen said he saw an opportunity when the building, formerly an auto dealership around 1926, went up for sale.

"I had a vision to convert this property into an entertainment-retail district,” he said. “I saw an opportunity to improve the neighborhood, by buying the property, improving it and naming it the A.C. Junction Plaza.”

Nielsen is also the creative designer for the building and acting general contractor.

Phase II of the project will include the improvement of four storefronts along Culver Road, as well as an expansion of Sticky Lips to be called the "Sticky Lips BBQ City Music Hall," he said. These plans include a full bar, raised stage, sound and lighting system, and more dining space for banquets and diners. Construction of this phase is expected to begin in 2014.

Nielsen also has Sticky Lips BBQ Juke Joint on Jefferson Road in Henrietta.